TT30 


A     SiHORT 

ACCOUNT 

OF    THE   PEOPLE    CALLED 

U    A    K    E    R     S-t 


Their  RISE,  RELIGIOUS  PRINCIPLES  and 
SETTLEMENT  in  AMERICA. 

Moftly  collefted  from  different  AUTHORS,  for 
the  information  of  all  ferious  INQUIRERS^ 
particularly  FOREIGNERS. 

THE    THIRD  EDITION. 


BY   ANTHONT  BENEZET. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed  by  ENOCH  STORY,    at  his  Printing-Office, 
iu  Strawberry- Alley,  oppofite  Trotter's  Alley* 

MDCCLXXXIII, 


A  Short  ACCOUN7?  of  the  People  cal 
led  Qu  A  K  £  R  s ,  their  Rife,  Religious 
Principles  and  Settlement  In' AM  £  RICA, 
moftly  collected  from  divers  Authors, 
for  die  Information  of  all  ferious  En 
quirers,  particularly  Foreigners. 

THESE  people  were  firft  diftinguifhed 
by  the  name  of  Quakers  in  England,  a- 
bout  the  middle  of  the  laft  century.  George 
Fox  was  the  principal  inftrument  of  gather 
ing  them  into  a  religious  fociety.  His  out 
ward  employment  while  young,  was  chiefly 
in  the  care  of  ilieep,  and  from  his  infancy 
being  of  a  grave,  folid,  obferving  turn  of 
mind,  was  early  reitrained  from  the  follies 
incident  to  youth ;  folicitous,  above  all 
things,  to  obtain  the  favour  of  GOD,  and 
to  avoid  every  thing  which  either  the  fcrip- 
tures  or  the  inward  principle  of  Divine 
Grace  taught  him  to  believe  was  oflfenfivc 
to  him ;  though  in  fo  doing  many  corrupt 
praxrHces,  which  cuftom  had  familiarized  to 
the  Profeffors  of  Chriftianity,  prefented 
themfelves  as  obftacles  in  his  way,  which 
for  a  time  occaiioned  him  much  anxiety, 
left  his  own  particular  profpect  ihould  mif- 
lead  him;  but  as  he  retained  an  inflexible 
integrity,  he  gained  experience  by  the  things 

that 


(    4    ) 

that  he.-fuffercdf  an.d;as  his  underilanding 
wasgradually'illuihin^ted,  he  received  fatis- 
fa^tioh/'h>;tb:<j;  inany,  dpubts  he  had  long 
painfully  lab'oured  under.  In  the  year  1 647 
and  23d  of  his  age,  he  travelled  through 
feveral  counties  of  England,  feeking  out 
fuch  as,  in  religious  tenderncfs,  were  in 
quiring  after  the  way  of  life  and  falvation  : 
Thefe  he  taught  both  by  precept  and  ex 
ample  the  benefit  of  retiring  into  iilence, 
and  inilructed  them  to  ceafe  from  all  felf- 
performances,  to  turn  to  the  light  of  Chrift 
in  their  own  hearts,  and  wait  to  feel  the 
inflrudions  of  his  fpirit  there,  that  their 
knowledge,  worihip  and  religious  fervices, 
might  not  Hand  in  the  will  of  man,  but 
in  "  the  power  of  an  endlefs  life." 

In  this  fervice  of  love  he  continued  fome 
years,  and  his  labours  were  fo  bleffed,  that 
great  numbers  were  convinced  by  his  mini- 
ilry  and  that  of  others  who  were  gathered 
into  the  fame  inward  divine  principle,  who 
^t  firft  were  called  Children  of  the, Light, 
But  the  power  and  reverential  awe  attend 
ing  them  fo  aflfefted  their  minds,  and  thofe 
of  the  pioufly  difpcfed  people  to  whom  they 
miniftered,  as  often  to  caufe  them  to  trem 
ble  before  the  Divine  Majefty,  under  an 

abafing 


(     5     ) 

abafing  fenfe  of  their  own  unworthinefs, 
whence  they  were  in  derilion  called  Qua 
kers  ;  which  name  they  have  iince  been  moft 
generally  known  by  in  the  world;  tho'  from 
their  mutual  love  and  patient  fuffering  of 
injuries,  which  they  held  ought  ever  to 
mark  the  followers  of  Chrift,  they  ftiled 
themfelves  Friends,  or  the  Friends  of  Truth. 
Thus  it  was,  that  a  man  without  any  world 
ly  advantages  of  ftation  or  literature,  mere 
ly  by  a  continued  attention  to  the  guidance 
of  that  Divine  Light,  which  he  bore  tefti- 
mony  to  in  the  energy  and  power  of  his 
miniftry  the  convincing  plainneis  and  clear- 
nefs  of  his  doctrine,  and  the  correfpondent 
fandity  of  his  life,  became  an  inftrument 
in  the  Lord's  hand,  to  colle<£l  from  all  pro- 
feffions  and  moft  ranks,  great  numbers  of 
pioufly  difpofed  people,  who  were  at  length 
embodied  into  a  religious  fociety,  govern 
ed  by  one  of  the  beft  fyftems  of  Chriftian 
Difcipline  that  hiflory  affords  any  account 
of. 

Thefe  converts  to  the  Light  of  Chrift  in 
the  Soul  of  Man,  were  diftinguifhable  for  a 
grave,  fedate  deportment;  iingular  upright- 
nefs  in  their  dealings;  punctuality  in  the 
performance  of  their  promifes;  a  fparing- 

ncis 


nefs  in  difcourfe ;  great  temperance  and  fru 
gality  at  their  tables ;  and  plainnefs  and  fim- 
plicity  in  their  drefs  and  behaviour.  They 
declined  fervile  and  fantaftical  geftures, 
compliments  and  other  cuftomary  forms  of 
falutation,  fuch  as  putting  off  the  hat,  fcrap- 
ing  the  foot,  bending  the  knee,  drinking 
healths,  8cc.  efteeming  them  to  be  violati 
ons  of  that  fmcerity  and  ferioufnefs  which 
becomes  Chriitians;  yet  conlldered  it  their 
duty  to  treat  all  men  with  gentlenefs  and 
refpeft.  Making  ufe  of  the  iingular  num 
ber  (Thou)  as  moft  proper  and  conliftent 
with  Scripture  and  the  moft  approved  an 
cient  writers,  avoiding  the  cuftomary  ufe  of 
the  plural  (You)  when  fpeaking  to  a  fmgle 
perfon,  with  fuch  other  flattering  titles  of 
addrefs  as  ferve  to  feed  the  pride  of  the  hu 
man  heart,  accounting  them  both  contrary 
to  the  limplicity  of  the  gofpel,  and  incon- 
fiftent  with  truth.  They  difufed  fuch  names 
of  the  months  or  days  of  the  week  as  were 
derived  from  the  gods  of  the  heathen,  be 
lieving  that  under  the  gofpel  difpenfation 
thofe  prophecies  -were  to  be  fulfilled,  by 
which  the  Lord  declared,  "  he  would  fo 
"  effeftually  take  away  the  name  of  Baalim 
* '  from  his  people,  that  they  fhould  no 

"  more 


(    7    ) 

"  more  be  remembered  by  their  names.5' 
Zech.  xiii.  2.  Hofeaii.  17. 

They  maintained  that  as  the  end  of  true 
Religion  is  to  redeem  the  minds  of  mankind 
from  the  fpirit  of  the  world,  and  bring  them 
to  an  inward  communion  with  God,  that 
therefore  the  purfuit  of  worldly  failiions, 
all  diverfions,  fuch  as  gaming,  dancing,  itage 
playing  and  other  amufements  of  the  fame 
baneful  tendency,  are  to  be  refrained  from 
as  evidently  tending  to  raife  the  human  mind 
which  is  prone  to  vanity,  above  the  prefer- 
ving  fear  of  God,  and  to  weaken  its  delirea 
after  thofe  effufions  of  his  love  and  good- 
nefs,  wherewith  it  ought  to  feek  daily  to  be 
leavened.  For  according  to  fcripture  tefti- 
mony  and  the  correfpondent  evidences  of 
'Gofpel  Light  in  their  own  hearts,  they  found 
that  while  men's  affections  are  engroffed  by 
the  pleafures  and  delights  of  this  world, 
they  are  dead  to  a  fence  of  the  Divine  Life 
in  them ;  the  abfolute  neceflity  of  regene 
ration  and  the  power  by  which  this  great 
work  is  effected,  are  both  included  in  that 
doctrine  of  the  apoftle,  "  If  ye  live  after 
"  theflefhye  fhall  die;  but  if  ye  through 
"  the  Spirit  do  mortify  the  deeds  of  the 
"  body,  ye  fhall  live;  For  as  many  as  are 

"  led 


(     8     ) 

"  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God  they  are  the 
"  Sons  of  God."  Rom.  via.  13. 

It  was  about  thirty  years  after  the  firfl  ap 
pearance  of  the  Quakers  in  England,  that 
many  of  them  fettled  in  America.  In  the 
year  1681,  the  province  of  Pennfylvania 
being  granted  to  William  Penn,  he  removed 
thither  with  a  confiderable  number  of  his 
friends,  moitly  of  the  people  called  Qua 
kers.  It  is  worthy  of  fpecial  notice,  that 
rnoft  of  the  fettlements  in  America  were 
made  with  little  regard  to  any  prior  title  in 
the  natives ;  but  William  Penn  did  not  think 
his  permifiion  to  colonize  the  traft  of  land 
granted  to  him  by  king  Charles  II.  a  fuffici- 
ent  title  to  the  country;  but  affembled  the 
Sachems  or  Princefs,  and  obtain  their  con- 
fent  to  fettle  upon  the  extent  of  land  that  he 
wanted.  When  it  became  neceffary  to  ex 
tend  the  fettlement,  new  lands  were  pur- 
chafed  from  the  original  poffeffors,  which 
eftabliflied  fo  much  love  and  confidence  in 
them  towards  William  Penn  and  the  firft 
fettlers  of  Pennsylvania,  that  his  and  their 
names  were,  and  ftill  continue  to  be,  re 
vered  amongft  them. 

Such  a  tolleration  and  liberty  of  confci- 
ence  was  eftabliihed  in  Pennfylvania,  as 

pro* 


.  - 

promoted  and  maintained  a  true  fenfe  of 
religion,  which  penal  laws  have  ever  failed 
of  effecting;  hypocrify  and  profanenefs  were 
difcouraged,  and  thofe  Eccleliailical  Efta- 
blilhments  which  tend  to  deprive  men  of 
their  religious  and  civil  rights  avoided*  Wil 
liam  Penn  granted  a  general  toleration  to  all 
who  profeffed  to  beleive  in  one  Supreme 
Almighty  Being;  and  allowed  the  different 
fec&s  of  Chriftians  to  hold  offices,  and  to 
enjoy  the  higheft  pofts  in  the  ftate ;  as  by  the 
Charter  of  Priviledges,  dated  28th  October 
1701,  is  expreffly  provided,  viz.  "  Becaufe 
"  no  people  can  be  truly  happy  though  un- 
"  der  the  greateft  enjoyment  of  Civil  Li- 
"  berties,  if  abridged  of  the  freedom 
"  of  their  Confciences,  as  to  their  religi- 
"  ous  profeffion  and  worfhip;  and  Al- 
"  mighty  God  being  the  only  Lord  of  con- 
"  fcience,  Father  of  lights  and  fpirits,  and 
"  the  author  as  well  as  objeft  of  all  divine 
"  knowledge,  faith  and  worfhip,  who  on- 
"  ly  doth  enlighten  the  minds  and  perfuade 
"  and  convince  the  underftandings  of  peo- 
"  pie:  I  do  hereby  grant  and  declare  that 
"  no  perfon  or  perfons  inhabiting  in  this 
"  Province  or  Territories,  who  fhall  con- 
"  fefs  and  acknowledge  one  almighty  God, 
"  the  creator,  upholder  and  ruler  of  the 
"  world,  and  profefs  him  or  themfelves 
B  "  obliged 


(       10       ) 

"  obliged  to  live  quietly  under  the  civil  go- 
"  vernrnent,  ihall  be  in  any  cafe  molefted 
"  or  prejudiced  in  his  or  their  perfon  or 
"  eftate,  becaufe  of  his  or  their  confcien- 
"  tious  perfiiafion  or  practice ;  nor  be  com- 
"  pelled  to  frequent  or  maintain  any  reli- 
"  gious  worfhip,  place  or  miniilry  contra- 
"  ry  to  his  or  their  mincj. ;  or  to  do,,  or  fuf- 
"  fer  any  other  art  or  thing  contrary  to 
"  their  religious  perfualion.  And  that  all 
"  perfons  who  alib  profefs  to  beleive  in  Je- 
"  fus  Chrift,  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  ihall 
"  be  capable  (notwithftanding  their  other 
"  periuafions  and  practices  in  point  of  con- 
**  fcience  and  religion)  to  ferve  this  govern- 
"  ment  in  any  capacity,  both  legiflatively 
"  and  executively." 

And  in  order  to  guard,  as  much  as  was  in 
his  power  againft  the  inftability  of  future 
human  councils,  William  Penn  provided, 
in  the  moft  folemn  manner,  in  the  laft  para 
graph  of  his  charter,  that  this  moft  effential 
Liberty  and  Privilege  fliould  be  preferved 
inviolate,  in  the  following  memorable  con- 
clulion  of  it,  viz.  "  But  becaufe  the  happi- 
*'  nefs  of  mankind  depends  fo  much  upon 
"  the  enjoying  of  liberty  of  their  confcien- 
"  ces  as  atoreiaid,  I  do  hereby  iblemnly  de- 
"  clare,  promife  and  grant  for  me,  my  heirs 
tf  and  affigns,  tliat  the  tiiit  article  of  this 

"  charter 


.(  II  ) 

"  charter,  relating  to  Liberty  of  Conlciencc 
"  and  every  part  and  claufe  therein,  accor- 
"  ding  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  there- 
"  of,  ihall  be  kept  and  remain,  without  any 
•*  alteration,  inviolably  forever.  .  And  lail- 
"  ly,  I  the  faid  William  Penn,  proprietary 
"  and  governor  of  the  province  of  Pennfyl- 
"  vania  and  Territories  thereunto  belong- 

o 

"  ing,  for  myfelf,  my  heirs  and  afiigns  have 
"  folemnly  declared,  granted  and  confirm- 
"  ed,  and  do  hereby  folernnly  declare, 
<c  grant  and  confirm,  that  neither  I,  my 
"  heirs  or  affigns  {hall,  procure  or  do,  any 
"  thing  or  things,  whereby  the  liberties  in 
"  this  charter  contained  and  expreffed,  nor 
"  any  part  thereof,  {hall  be  infringed  or 
"  broken;  and  if  any  thing  {hall  be  pro- 
"  cured  or  done  by  any  perfon  or  perfons 
(f  contrary  to  thefe  prefents  it  {hall  be  held 
"  of  no  force  or  effeft." 

This  general  Liberty  of  Confcience  was 
the  natural  effed  of  the  divine  principle  of 
light  and  truth  profeffed  by  the  Quakers, 
who  hold  none  excluded  from  the  favour 
of  God  on  account  of  their  different  religi 
ous  perfuafion,  provided  it  be  founded  on 
the  fear  of  God  and  love  to  mankind.  A 
government  eftablifhed  upon  fo  liberal  and 
extentive  a  plan,  was  an  encouragement  to 
great  numbers  of  different  perfuafions  to 

emigrate 


emigrate  from  various  countries,  where  ma 
ny  had  fuffered  for  their  non  conformity  to 
eccleliaftical  requifitions,  to  fettle  under  a 
conftitution,  the  baiis  of   which  was  reli 
gious  and  civil  liberty,  to  which  wife  pro- 
viiion  the  rapid  fettlement  and  improve 
ment  of  the  Province  has,  by  the  bleffmg 
of  Providence,  been  principally  owing, 
is  a  fituation  of  fociety  beautiful  in  profpe  A 
and  happy  in  the  enjoyment,    when  men 
mutually  give  and  receive  liberty  to  live 
with  equality  and  affection;    if  not  as  be 
longing  to  the  fame  vifible  church,  yet  to 
the^fame  fraternity  of  mankind;  agreeable 
to  our  bleffed  Saviours  doarine,  "  One  is 
"  your   mailer   and  all   ye   are   brethren. 
"  Mat.  xxiii.  8."     The  changes  which  for 
a  number  of  years  paft  have  gradually  pre 
vailed  in  this  once   peaceful  land,  princi 
pally  owing  to  the  great  acceffion  of  people 
of  different  difpoiitions  from  the  firil  fet- 
tlers,  the  views  of  many  of  whom  having 
been  to  amafs  wealth  and  agrandize  them- 
felves,  has  very  much  reverted  the  fyftem 
of  happinefs  fo  long  and  fuccefsfully  pur- 
fued:  Hence  the  friendly  difpoiitionof  the 
Indians  confpicuous  for  a  long  courfe   of 
years  in  favour  of  the  inhabitants,  has  been 
fo  changed  that  Pennfylvania,  after  enjoy 
ing  an  uninterrupted  peace  of  more  than 

fixty 


(     13     ) 

fixty  years,  has,  in  common  with  the  other 
colonies,  fuffered  feverely  from  the  incur- 
fions  of  the  natives. 

Their  DOCTRINES. 

The  Univerfality  of  the  Grace  of  GOD, 
and  its  faving  EffeAs. 

THE  Dotti-ine  they  principally  hold  is, 
that  there  is  one  God,  almighty,  ho 
ly,  pure  and  eternal;  who  of  Ins  infinite 
love  has  offered  falvation,   through  Jefus 
Chrift  his  fon,    «  Who  fhould  taile  death 
for  every  man."    Heb,  ii.   9.     «  Who 
will  have  all  men  to  be  faved  and  to  come 
"  unto  the  knowledge  of  the  truth:"  i  Tim 
4.  That  a  gift  of  faving  Light  and  Grace 
hath  appeared  to  all  men;  teaching  us 
that  denying  ungodlinefs,   and  worldly 
ufts,  we  fhould  live  foberly,  righteouf- 
iy  and  godly,    in  this  prefent  world  " 


11. 


«  u  l'' 

the  true  light  which  lighteth  every  man 

that  cometh  into  the  world."  John  i 
The  divine  Principle  of  redeeming  pow 
er  which  under  the  difpenfation  of  the  law 
was  pointed  to  in  types  and  ceremonies  is 
by  the  gofpel  revealed  to  be  «  Chrift  in  you 
'     faith  the  Apoftle)  the  hope  of  glory  ' 
>    i.  27.  that  is  agreeable  to  the  prornife 

made 


(     i4    ) 

made  to  the  fathers,  «  that  all  (hall  know 
•«  him  (i.  e.  the  Lord)  from  the  Icatt  of  them 
«  tothegreateft."  Jer.  xxxi.  33- 
«  put  my  law  in  their  inward  parts,  and 
«  write  it  in  their  hearts,  and  will  be  their 
«  God  and  they  (hall  be  my  people." 

The  Quakers  hold  that  this  law  ot  truth, 
this  tcft  of  virtue  and  vice  is  not  hid  from 
any  part  of  mankind;  but  that  every  man 
born  into  the  world,  is  enlightned  by  it: 
The  ferious  and  well  difpoiedHeathens,  in 
different  ages  and  nations,  have,  under  v: 
rious  appellations,  expreffed  their  lenhbuit) 
of  the  exigence  and  efficacy  of  this  Divine 
Principle,  this  law  of  God  written  in  the 
heart/to  deliver  from  that  corruption.undcr 
which  they  laboured.     Socrates,  Plato,  Se- 
neca,   Epiftetus  and  feveral  others  ot    the 
philofophers  called  their  difciples  to  an  at 
tention  to  its  diaates.  Thefe  doubtlefs  were 
fome  of  thofe  virtuous  Heathens  commen 
ded  in  the  fcriptures,  Rom.  ii.  14-     :  ^h 
*  tho' they  had  not,"  inftrumentally,beeu 
taught  the  law,  yet  from  a  conformity  to 
this  inward  principle  of  divine  inteUigence, 
-"  do  by  nature  the  things  contained  in  the 
««  law,  were  a  law  unto  themielv-es  which 
«'  ffavs  the  Apoftle)  ihew  the  work  of  ti. 
«  law  written  in  their  hearts,"*  this  the* 
maintain  to  be  a  light  of  God's  own  nature ; 


*  Rom.  u, 


(     15     ) 

"  the  Life  of  him  being  the  light  of  men. 
John  i.  4.  And  therefore  fuperior  to  and 
diftiruft  from  the  mere  light  of  our  natural 
faculties,  becaufe  it  doth  not  properly  ap 
pertain  to  men  as  fallen  creatures ;  but  is  the 
gift  of  God,  fuperadded  to  them,  thro'  Je- 
fus  Chriit,  for  their  information  and  affift> 
ance,  in  purfuing  after  thofe  things  which 
relate  to  the  favour  of  God  and  their  eter 
nal  Salvation.  Hence  the  Quakers  hold  it 
as  a  fundamental  doftrine,  that  whofoevcr 
will  carefully  and  ferioufly  turn  into  him- 
felf,  with  a  iincere  deiire  to  know  and  prac 
tice  his  duty,  will  not  fail  to  find  there  a 
Sufficient  director,  a  ray  from  the  fountain 
of  light,  illuminating  his  underftanding  and 
afliiling  him  to  diftinguifli  good  from  evil. 
As  faith  the  Prophet,  <  He  hath  fhewed  the 
w  O  man  what  is  good,  and  what  doth  the 
'  Lord  require  of  thee;  but  to  do  juftly 
4  and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly 
'  with  thy  God.'  Mich.  vi.  8.  They  are 
pcrfuaded  that  as  many  as  reiift  not  this 
light,  in  whatever  part  of  the  world  they 
live,  or  of  what  mode  of  religious  pro- 
feilion  they  may  be,  it  produce th  holinefs, 
nghicouiriefs,  purity  and  other  fruits  ac-r 
cep table  to  God,  agreeable  to  the  declara 
tion  made  by  the  Apoftle  Peter,  after  he 
had  been  at  the  houfe  of  Cornelius,  (  of  a 

4   truth 


(     16    ) 

4  truth  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  refpe&er 
4  of  perlbns;  but  in  every  nation,  he  that 
4  feareth  him,  and  worketh  righteoufnefs> 

*  is  accepted  with  him.'    A&s   x.  34,    35. 

*  Yet  fhall  not  thy  teachers  be  removed  in- 
4  to  a  corner  any  more,  but  thine  eyes  fhall 
4  fee  thy  teachers ;  and  thine  ears  fhall  hear 

*  a  word  behind  the  faying,  This  is  the  way 
4  walk  ye  in  it,  when  ye  turn  to  the  right 
4  hand,    and  when    ye  turn  to  the  left/ 
Ifai?vh  xxx.  20.  21. 

They  efteem  the  Scriptures  of  the  old  and 
new  Teftament  above  all  other  writings,  be 
lieving  them  to  be  given  by  Divine  Infpira- 
tion,  as  a  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  in  fub- 
ordination  to  the  light  and  fpirit  of  God, 
which  is  the  primary  rule — that  much  de 
pends  on  the  fcriptures  being  judged  of  un 
der  the  influence  of  the  fame  Divine  Spirit 
which  gave  them  forth ;  that  otherwife,  in 
the  hands  of  men  actuated  by  their  corrupt 
propenlities,  they  may  and  have  been  ufed 
as  a  pretext  for  doing  many  things  abhor 
rent  to  the  nature  and  fpirit  of  the  gofpeL 
Witnefs  thofe  terrible  perfecutions  which  a 
falfe  zeal,  joined  to  a  wrong  conilruftion  of 
the  fcripture,  have  occafioned.  They  de 
cline  to  call  them  the  word  of  God,  as  be 
ing  a  denomination  properly  attributed  to 
Chrilt  alone ;  and  they  are  the  more  fcrupu- 

lous 


(    '7    \ 

laus  in  this  refpeft,  becaufe  people  are  apt 
to  be  hereby  led  to  think  that  if  they  have 
the  fcriptures,  they  have  ail  that  is  neceffary 
to  falvation,  and  Ipok  for  no  further  Word 
or  Light. 

ON     W  A  R. 

THE  Quakers  abfolutely  declare  againft 
being  concerned  in  the  deftru'ftion  of 
their  fellow  men,  who  equally  with  them- 
felves  are  the  objects  of  favlng  grace ;  hence 
they  can  take  no  part  in  war,  being  per- 
fuaded  that  all  wars  Hand  in  oppolition  to 
the  intent  and  nature  of  the  gofpel :  War 
being  the  fad  effeft  of  the  fall  of  man ;  a 
fall  from  meeknefs,  purity  and  love,  into 
fenfuality,  pride  revenge  and  wrath.  The 
apollle  James,  Chap.  4th,  hath  ftated  the 
queftion  with  refpect  to  the  caufe  of  war,  fo 
as  to  preclude  all  difficulty  and  doubt  about 
it:  ''  From  whence  come  wars  and  fight- 
"  ings  among  you,  come  they  not  hence, 
"  even  of  your  lufts."  James  iv.  i.  The  e- 
vident  fruits  of  a  fpiiit  contrary  to  the  fpi- 
rit  of  Chrill,  oppolite  both  in  its  nature  and 
effects  to  the  pure  religion  he  hath  called 
men  to  the  practice  of;  wherefore  they  are 
convinced  that  the  followers  of  the  meek 
and  peaceable  Jefus,  ought  to  take  no  part 
C  in 


in  war;  but  rather  to  labour  in  the  ability 
received  from  the  bleffed  Mediator,  to  re 
concile  men  unto  God  and  one  unto  another. 
"  Bleffed  (faith  our  merciful  Saviour)  are 
"  the  meek  for  they  fhall  inherit  the  ear:h: 
"  Bleffed  are  the   peace  makers  for  they 
"  fhall  be  called  the  children  of  God,"  Mat. 
v.  5.  g.  They  will  enjoy  that  peace  of  God 
which  paffeth  all  human  understanding-  And 
the  Apoftle  fpeaking  of  the  believers  adds, 
*'  Tho'  we   walk  in  the  fiefh,    we  do  not 
'*  war  after  the  flefh,  for  the  weapons  of 
'*   our  warfare  are  not  carnal."    2  Cor.  x. 
3.  4.     They  look  upon  the  golpel  of  Jefus 
Chrift  to  be  an  eminent  difplay  of  divine  be 
nignity  and  love  to  mankind;  that  the  foil 
of  God  took  upon  him  flelh  and  fiiffered,' 
and  died  to  deftroy  that  enmity  which  thro' 
fin  had  prevailed  over  the  whole  human 
race,  and  to  reltore  unto  fallen  man  the  firft 
life  of  purity  and  love;   ".leaving  us  (faith 
"  the  apoftle)  an  example  that  ye  fhould 
<c  follow  his  fteps.    i  Peter  ii.  21.      They 
believe  the  wars  mentioned  in  the  old  Tel- 
tament  afford  no  argument  for  its  continu 
ance  under  the  golpel,  which  is  declared  to 
be  ''  the  bringing  in  of  a  better  hope,  by 
"  the  which  we  draw  nigh  unto  God,  Heb. 
vii.  19.  a  difpenfation  of  peculiar  love  and 

mere) 


(     19     ) 

mercy  to  mankind,  which  our  Saviour  him- 
felf  diftinguifhes  from  the  former  difpenfa- 
tion,  i  when  he  fays  :  "  Ye  have  heared  that 
"  it  hath  been  faid,  An  eye  for  an  eye  and 
"  a  tooth  for  a  tooth;  but  I  fay  unto  you, 
"  That  ye  refift  not  evil;  again  Ye  have 
"  heared  that  it  hath  been  faid,  Thou  fhalt 
"  love  thy  neighbour  and  hate  thine  enemy: 
"  But  I  fay  unto  you,  Love  your  enemies, 
*'  blefs  them  that  curfe  you,  do  good  to 
"  them  that  hate  you  and  pray  for  them 
"  which  deipitefully  ufe  you  and  perfecute 
"  you,  that  ye  may  be  the  children  of  your 
"  father  which  is  in  heaven."  Mat.  v.  38, 
39,  43,  44,  55. 

Agreeable  to  this  is  the  teftimony  of  moft 
if  not  all  the  antient  fathers,  Jus.  Martyr, 
Tertu.  Ambrofe,  Chrys.  Hierom.  Athan. 
Cyrill.  Alex,  &c.  and  faithful  chriPdans  of 
the  firft  three  hundred  years  aft er  Chriit,  as 
their  writings  clearly  Ihew,  wherein  they 
declare  that  the  prophecies  of  Ifaiah  and 
Micah:  Ifai.  ii.  4.  Mich.  iv.  3.  "  They 
"  fhall  beat  their  iwords  into  plow-Hiares 
"  and  their  fpears  into  pruning-hooks :  Na- 
f<  tion  fhall  not  lift  up  fword  againftnation- 
"  neither  fhall  they  learn  war  any  more;" 
relating  to  the  eftabliftiment  of  the  peace 
able  reign  of  the  Meffiah,  as  well  as  the  de 
claration 


(       20       ) 

claration  made  by  the  Angels  at  the  birth  of 
Chriu,  of  "  Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to- 
"  wards  men/*  Luke  ii.  14.  were  verified 
in  the  experience  of  the  faithful  in  their  days. 

The  infpired  Apoftle  defcribes  the  fruits 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  ^  love,  joy,  peace, 
<r  long  fuffering,  gentlenefs,  goodnefs,  faith, 
*c  meeknefs,  temperance,  Gal.  v.  22,  23. 
fo  that  thefe  important  truths  experienced 
by  holy  men  of  early  and  latter  ages,  ma- 
nifeilthat  thisdoftrine  and  firm  perfuaiion 
of  the  Quakers  is  not  new  ;  and  it  muft  be 
allowed,  that  effential  fcrvice  may arife  from 
their  holding  up  the  efficacy  of  this  divine 
principle,  which  leads  to  "  overcome  evil 
with  good/'  Rom.  xii.  21.  to  a  world  di- 
ftrafted  with  wrath,  covetoufnefs  and  pride ; 
nor  ihould  it  appear  ftrange  that  the  doc 
trine  of  the  crois  of  Chrift  is  myfterious  to 
the  carnal  wifdom  of  man,  it  was  "  to  the 
"  Jew's  a  Humbling  block  and  to  the  Greeks 
"  foolifhnefs ;  but  unto  them  which  are  cal- 
"  led,  faith  the  Apoftle,  it  is  the  power  of 
"  God  and  the  wifdom  of  God/'  i  Cor. 
i.  23,  24- 

And  however  threatning  the  maintenance 
of  this  peaceable  teftimony  may  appear,  of 
bringing  deep  differing  upon  thofe  who  are 
faithful  therein;  yet  they  believe  that  Chrift 

the 


the  bleffed  Shepherd  of  his  flock,  will  ever 
uphold  thofe  who  faithfully  follow  him,  in 
the  meek,  forgiving,  fuffering  fpirit.  They 
cannot  confider  victories  obtained  by  the 
definition  of  men,  as  occafions  of  rejoic 
ing;  much  lefs  as  fubje&s  of  thankfgiving  to 
the  creator  of  mankind;  a  God  of  love  of 
peace  and  goodnefs,  "  God  is  love ;  and  he 
"  that  dwelleth  in  love,  dwelleth  in  God  and 
ic  God  in  him."  i  John  iv.  16.  but  regard 
them  as  occafions  of  lamentation,  and 
mourning,  both  on  account  of  thofe 
who,  inflamed  with  rage,  and  defiled  with 
blood,  are  precipitated  into  an  awful  eter 
nity,  and  of  thofe  who  are  left  to  {hare  and 
deplore  the  deflations  of  war;  alfo  in  the 
coniideration,  that  the  undcrftanding  of 
any,  who  bear  the  chriftian  name,  fhould 
be  fo  exceedingly  blind  to  the  nature  of 
the  gofpel,  as  to  imagine  its  Divine  Author^ 
who  declares  u  He  came  not  to  deftroy 
mens  lives;  but  •<  to  iave  them/'  Luke  ix... 
56.  can  look  with  favour  on  fiich  addrdTes^ 
as  arife  from  a  conduct  totally  repugnant 
to  the  great  end  of  his  coming. 

OF      W  O  R  S  H  1  P. 

THEY    look  upon  Divine  wonfliip  to 
be  the  moil  fblerrm  act  the  mind  of 

man 


man  is  capable  of  being  engaged  in,  and  in 
coniideration  of  the  high  and  inconceivable 
Majeily  of  almighty  God,  think  it  their  du 
ty  to  approach  him  with  the  greateit  reve 
rence.  They  affert  that  the  true  worihip  of 
God  is  in  Spirit  and  in  Truth,  not  limited 
to  any  place  or  time,  agreeable  to  our 
Lord's  declaration  to  the  woman  of  Sama 
ria;  (ft  The  hour  cometh  and  now  is,  when 
<r  the  true  worfhippers  {hall  worihip  the 
"  Father  in  Spirit  and  in  Truth:  For  the 
*f  Father  feeketh  fuch  to  worfhip  him." 
John  iv  23.  which  is  to  be  performed  through 
the  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  Jefus  Chrift 
our  Lord,  who  regards  the.  prayer  of  the 
humble  and  contrite,  that  in  iincerity  feek 
him,  and  has  declared,  "  where  two  or 
<<r  three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name, 
<<r  there  am  I  in  the  midftof  them;"  Matt. 
xviii.  20.  to  revive  the  fpirit  6f  the  hum 
ble  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite 
ones.  Ifaiah  Ivii.  15. 

They  acknowledge  no  prieftly  office  to 
fubliil  under  the  gofpel  difpenfation,  in  any 
other  fenfe  than  as  every  fincere  chriftian 
may  be  called  a  prieft  as  he  offers  up  to  God 
the  facrificeof  praifea#dthankfgiving,  from 
a  pure  and  contrite  heart,  in  which  rcfpeft 
the  apoftle  calls  all  true  chriflians  a  royal 

priefthood 


priefthood  to  offer  up  fpiritual  facrifices-a 
holy  nation,  apeculiar  people,  i  Pet.  ii.  5.  g. 

T hey  apprehend  it  their  duty  to  be  dili 
gent  in  affembling  themfelves  together  for 
the  public  worfhip  of  almighty  God,  when 
fuch  as  are  duly  prepared  by  being  gathered 
into  a  compofed  awful  frame  of  mind,,  are 
enabled  under  the  influence  of  divine  grace 
to  worfhip,  in  folemn  iilence,  during  the 
whole  time  of  the  meeting,  or  if  moved 
thereto,  to  pray  or  preach  ( i.  e.  prophecy) 
as  the  fpirit  giveth  them  utterance ;  agree 
able  to  the  practice  of  the  primitive  church, 
without  diftin&ion  of  quality  or  fex ;  every 
one  who  is  of  a  fober  life  and  approved 
converfation,  if  divinely  called  or  moved 
thereto,  is  permitted  to  fpeak  in  their  ai~ 
femblies,  and  as  liich  perfevere  therein  to 
thefatisfaftion  of  the  congregation,  they  are 
recommended  as  gofpel  minifters.  They 
fay,  that  as  well  at  meals  as  on  all  other  oc- 
cafions,  a  fenfe  of  gratitude  fhould  be  lived 
in  for  the  bleffing,  prefervation  and  fupport 
we  daily  receive,  particularly  looking  up  to 
God  and  waiting  to  feel  the  motion"of  his 
Spirit  to  animate  to  mental  prayer,  without 
which  all  vocal  exprefiion  is  inefficient. 

They  think  men  ought  to  be  very  careful 
in  their  preteniions  to  the  miniflerial  gifts, 

it 


(  34  ) 

xc  being  very  prefumptuous  and  dangerous 
in  any  to  take  upon  them  that  high  office 
without  being  divinely  called  thereto,  and 
that  no  man  has  a  fufficient  ground  to  think 
he  is  called  to  the  miniftry  by  the  Holy- 
Ghoft,  without  a  clear  putting  forth  of  the 
Spirit  in  his  heart,  from  a  fenfe  of  duty  to 
God,  and  a  feeling,  preffing,  dilinterefted 
love  to  the  brethren,  to  the  fatisfa&ion  of 
the  congregation  or  meeting  he  belongs  to. 
This  to  them  appears  to  comprehend  the 
fubftance  of  the  primitive  ordination  in  the 
apoftolic  age.  To  fettle  falaries  and  pen- 
fions  for  the  maintenance  of  the  ordained 
preachers,  who  afterwards  exa£t  them  as  a 
debt,  they  look  upon  as  a  difhonour  to  the 
miniftry  of  the  gofpel,  degrading  it  to  a 
worldly  traffic :  That  agreeable  to  our  Sa 
viour's  poiitive  command,  "  Having  free- 
"  ly  received  they  ought  freely  to  give." 
Matt.  x.  8.  The  Apoflle  Paul  declared, 
'c  Thathis  own  hands  had  miniftered  unto 
"  his  neceffities."  A&sxx*  34. 

As  the  Quakers  hold  it  a  fundamental 
doftrine,  f<f  That  it  is  the  Spirit  thatgiveth 
"  life,"  2  Cor.  iii.  6.  "  That  God  hath 
"  made  foolifh  the  wifdom  of  this  world," 
i  Cor.  i.  20.  They  cannot  efteem  human 
learning  to  be  a  neceffary  qualification  to 

the 


the  miniftry,  the  Apdftle  declares  to  the  be 
lievers,  "  that  not  many  wife  men  after  the 
<<•  flefh,  not  many  mighty,  iiot  many  no- 
"  ble  are  called,  but  God  hath  chofen  the 
'*  foblifti  things  arid  the  weak  things  of  the 
"  world  to  confound  the  things  which  are 
"  mighty;  yea  and  things  which  are  not, 
"  to  bring  to  nought  things  that  are,  that 
"  no  fleffa  fliould  glciry  in  his  prefence. 
"  And  my  fpeech  and  my  preaching  was 
*'  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wi£- 
"  dam,  but  in  derftchflration  of  fpirit  and 
"  power;  that  your  faith  Ihould  pot  Hand 
"  in  the  wifdoin  of  men;  but  in  the  pow- 
"  erof  God."  i  Cor.  i.  26.— ii.  4.  5. 

Foi-  the  lame  reafon  they  utterly  difclaim 
that  divinity  falfely  fo  called,  taught  in  the 
fchools,  and  thbfe  degrees  conferred^  in 
Academies ;  the  nature  of  which,  tKe^  look 
upon  tends  to  puff  iip  the  vain  mind  in  e- 
ftimation  of  its  own  importance,  to  affume 
IbrdfHip  and  to  feek  honour  one  from  ano 
ther,  in  oppblitibft  to  the  advice  of  our  Sa 
viour  to  his:  difciplcs,  "  Not  to  be  called 
"  Rabbi  ;JT  but  directs  to  a  brotherly  equa 
lity  among  his  difciples,  "  One  is  your  Ma 
iler,  even  Chrift;  and  all  ye  are  brethren. 
Matt,  xxiii.  8.  They  alfo  refufc  to  pay 
tythes  or  to  tontribuie  to  the  fuppbit  of 
D  a 


,       . 

a  hireling  miniftiy,  looking  upon  the  for 
cible  demand  of  the  clergy  of  all  denomi 
nations  who  claim  a  maintenance  by  laws> 
to  be  an  ufurpation  not  in  the  Icail  warrant 
ed  by,  but  contrary  to  Icripture,  under  the 
gofpel,  which  they  are  in  conference  obliged 
to  \vithftand « 

They  affert  that  afflongft  the  many  mif- 
takcn  practices  which  have  been  introduced 
and  correfpond  not  with  the  voice  of  Chrift 
the  only  Shepherd  of  the  Soul,  none  ap 
pears  more  oppoied  to  the  meek  and  hum 
ble,  felf- denying  ftate  of  the  gofpel,-  than 
the  practice  of  thole  '*  Who  teach  for  hire 
4i  and  divine  for  money,"  Micah  iii.  1 1. 
v/ho  are  generally  ready  fe  to  prepare  war 
('  againft  thofe  who  put  not  into  their 
Mouths/'  Cap*  iii.  5.  and  arrogate  to  them- 
fclves,  that  they,  by  virtue  of  their  feveral 
ordinations  arc  the  only  guides  and  Ihep- 
herds  of  all  Chriftians,  v/ho  are  to  receive 
the  gofpel  from  their  lips,  in  contradiction 
to  the  promife  made  to  the  believers,  "That 
"  alllhould  know  the  Lord  from  the  leaft 
"  to  the  greateft.  Heb.  Viii.  n. 

Notwithftandiiig  the  teftimony  of  the 
Quakers  is  againit  thofe  preachers,  among 
the  different  denominations,  that  labour  in 
their  own  will,  who  preaeh  for  hire  and  di 
vine 


vine  for  money,  yet  they  refped  fuch  a~ 
mong  them  who  are  men  fearing  God  and 
hating  covetoufnefs,  and  have  engaged  in 
that  weighty  fervice  from  an  apprehenfion 
of  duty,  nor  do  they  deny  that  the  fpirit  of 
Grace  fometimes  condefcends  to  co-operate 
with  the  religious  labours  of  fuch:  Never- 
thejefs  they  cannot  clireft  the  fearchers  after 
truth  to  the  miniflry  of  any  man,  but  tq 
the  immediate  teaching  of  «  the  word  nigh 
"  in  the  heart/'  even  the  Spirit  of  God, 
which  is  the  only  infallible  teacher,  the  pri 
mary  adequate  rule  of  faith  and  practice, 
which  will  lead  thofe  who  attend  to  its  dic-^ 
tates  intq  the  knowledge  of  tnith  and 
righteoufhefs. 

And  as  there  is  a  general  difpenfation  of 
Divine  Grace,  alike  to  male  and  female, 
who  in  fcripture  are  declared  to  be  all  one 
in  Chrift,  they  admit  that  women  have  a  like 
call  to  the  miniftry  as  the  roe.n,  and  are 
m^ide  equally  partakers  of  the  fame  enlarge 
ment  of  Spirit, peculiar  to  the  gofpei  times; 
as  was  clearly  prophelied  by  the  prophet 
Joel  and  confirmed  by  the  ap.oftlePe\  r,  at 
the  time  of  pentecoit,  viz.  "  That  God 
"  would  pour  out  of  his  Spirit  upon  all  flcfh4 
"  and  their  fons  and  their  daughters  fhould 

"(  pi'ophefy and  on  my  iervants  and  on 

i;  my 


f '  my  handr-maids  will  I  pour  out,  in  thole 
?'  days,  of  my  Spirit,  and  they  fnall  pro- 
"  phefy,"  Aas  ii.  17,  18.  the  apoftle  Paul, 
alfo,  gives  directions  to  both  fexes,  how  they 
^re  to  behave  themfelves  in  their  publick 
praying,  or  prophefying,  both  which  iignify 
fpeaking  unto  men  to  exhortationand.com- 
'fort.  Whence  it  may  be  fafely  concluded, 
that  the  prohibition  that  apoftle  lays  on  a, 
woman's  fpeaking,  of  which  fuch  a  handle 
is  made  to  deprive  the  church  of  fo  great  a 
benefit,  was  only  intended  as  a  check  to  the 
unwarrantable  aftivity  of  fome  women,  at 
]that  peculiar  time,  and  by  no  means  in  con- 
tradiftion  to  what  himfelf  had  faid  in  con 
firmation  of  the  fore-mentioned  prophefy. 

On  BAPTISM  and  the  SUPPER. 

ft*     x     *        ''• 

THE  Quakers  being  convinced  that  no 
outward  practice  can  give  apofTeffion 
in  the  kingdom  of  God,  but  it  is  folely  the 
renovation  of  heart  called  in  fcripture  the 
New  Creature,  that  can  juffly  entitle  us  to 
the  appellation  of  Children  of  God,  agree 
able  to  the  apofllc's  doctrine,  '*  That  the 
tf  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink; 
"  butrigiiteoufnefs,  and  peace  and  joy  in. 
cc  the  Holy  Ghoit,"  Rom.  xiv.  17,  they 

fee 


(      29      ) 

fee  no  neceffity  for  continuing  the  ufe  of 
water  baptiim,  and  the  outward  (upper  in 
the  church,  efteeming  thefe  to  have  been 
ufed  only  as  figures  pointing  to  the  fub- 
(lance,  and  abftraftedly  coniidered  of  no 
greater  avail  than  Walhing  the  feet,  circum- 
ciiiori  or  any  Jewifli  rite  to  the  renovation  of 
mind  \ye  ftapd  in  need  of;  yet  believe  there 
are  thofe  who  ufe  thefe  figns  in  uprightnefs, 
and  that  the  Lord,  who  refpeds  the  diipofi- 
tion  of  the  mind  more  than  any  outward 
circumftance,  condefcends  to  favour  fuch 
with  the  bleffing  of  peace :  They  agree  that 
fome  of  the  apoflles  ufed  water-bap tifm,  in 
the  infant  (late  of  the  church,  while  the 
jewifh  part  of  the  believers  remained  under 
fpmc  attachment  to  the  preceeding  (liadowy 
difpenfation  of  the  law;  but  we  may  obferve 
that  Paul  the  apoftle  of  the  Gentiles,,  who 
"  was  not  under  thofe  prejudices  fays,  "  that 
','  Chrift  fent  him  not  to  baptize,  but  to 
*'  preach  the  Gofpel/'  i  Cor.  i.  17.  and  de 
clares  the  baptizing  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft  to  be  an  effeutial  means  of  admifiion 
into  the  church  of  Chrift,  "  For,  (fays  he) 
<<r  by  one  fpirit  are  we  all  baptized  into  one 
*•*  body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles, 
"  whether  we  be  bond  or  free;  and  have 
"  been  all  made  to  drink  into  one  fpirit." 

i  Cor, 


(     30     ) 

I  Cor.  xii.  13.  The  fame  apoftle  cxpreffly 
declares,  f(  That  there  is  one  Lord,  one 
<c  Faith,  one  Baptifm."  Eph.  iv.  5,  And 
the  apoftle  Peter,  <<r  That  the  baptifm  which 
"  faveth,  is  not  the  putting  away  of  the 
"  filth  of  the  flefh,  but  the  anfwer  of  a 
"  good  confcience  towards  God,  by  the 
"  refureftion  of  Jefus  Chrift."  i  Pet.  iii.  2 1 , 
Now  in  this  advanced  age  of  the  church 
when  Chrift  is  confeffed  by  all  denomina 
tions  of  chriftians  to  be  the  great  Antitype, 
in  whom  all  the  figures  and  fhadows  of  the 
law  are  fulfilled,  for  any  to  infift  on  the 
perpetuation  of  thefe  forms,  and  place  their 
dependance  thereon  for  the  accomplifh- 
ment  of  that  work  qf  falvation  which  can 
only  be  wrought  by  his  faying  fpirit  and 
power,  they  apprehend  is  to  derogate  from 
his  honour  and  tends  to  flop  the  feeking 
mind  in  a  dangerous  dependance  on  fome- 
thing  fhort  of  the  true  objeft.  Thus  the  wa 
ter  baptifm  of  John  was  carefully  diftin- 
guifhed  by  himfelf,  from  that  of  Chrift,  by 
which  the  purification  of  the  foul  is  effected, 
M  I  indeed  (fays  he)  baptize  you  with  water 
'•*  unto  repentance;  but  he  that  corneth  af- 
v.  ter  me  is  mightier  than  I,  whofe  fhoes  I 
V  am  not  wordiy  to  bear,  he  fhall  baptize 
"  you  with  the  Holy  Ghoft  and  with  Fire- 

Matt. 


(     31     ) 

Matt*  iii.  1 1 ;  Accordingly  when  in  obedi 
ence  to  ChriiVs  directions,  the  dilciples  were 
aflembled  at  Jemfalem  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
tecoil,  and  then  experienced  the  defcent  of 
this  baptizing  power  upon  them,  it  opened 
their  mouths  in  teilimony  to  its  quickmng 
influence ;  and  when  afterwards,  under  the 
fame  divine  qualification,  Peter  began  to 
preach  to  fome  at  the  houfe  of  Cornelius, 
he  fays,  «*  The  Holy  Ghoft  fell  on  them,  as 
*r  on  us  at  the  beginning :  Then  remember- 
**  ed  I  the  word  of  the  Lord,  how  that  he 
*'  {aid,  John  indeed  baptized  with  water; 
tf  but  ye  fhall  be  baptized  \vith  the  Holy 
Ghoft."  A<fts  xi.  15.  1 6- 

The  like  fpiritual  acceptation  the  Qua 
kers  give  to  the  Lord's  fupper,  the  outward 
practice  of  which  they  apprehend  was  orily 
to  continue  until  he  came  by  his  fpiritual 
appearance,  who  is  the  antitype,  fulfilled 
the  law  and  put  an  end  to  all  the  Jewifh 
rites ;  and  that  they  who  experience  his 
coming  a  fecondtime,  without  fin  unto  fal- 
ration,  feel  the  force  and  propriety  of  the 
apoftle's  rebuke,  and  dare  not  return  to  the 
"  beggarly  elements/'  Gal.  iv.  8  9-  "When 
"  ye  knew  not  God  ye  did  fervice  unto  them 
"  which  by  nature  are  no  Gods  ;  but  now 
"  after  that  ye  have  known- God,  or  rathci 

'*  arc 


"  are  known  of  God,  how  turn  ye  a- 
"  gain  to  the  weak  arid  beggarly  elements, 
"  whereunto  ye  defife  again,  to  be  in 
"  bondage/'  but  defire  to  teed  by  faith, 
on  him,  who  teftified  thus  of  himfelf, 
"  Whofo  cateth  my  fleih  and  drinketh  my 
"  blood  hath  eternal  life,  and  I  will  rails 
"  him  up  at  the  laft  day;  for  my  fleih  is  meat 
"  indeed  and  my  blood  is  drink  indeed.  He 
"  that  eateth  my  flefh  and  driaketh  my 
"  blood,  dwelleth  in  me  and  I  in  him/'  John 
vi.  54,  55,  56.  which  declaration  clearly 
points  to  the  communication  of  his  divine 
nature,  alluded  to  where  he  is  defcribed  as 
{landing  at  a  door,  waiting  for  an  entrance 
to  blefs  the  hungry  foul  with  the  enjoyment 
of  it;  "  Behold!  I  ftand  at  the  door  and 
"  knock,  if  any  man  hear  my  voice  and  o- 
"  pen  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him  and 
"  will  fup  with  him  and  he  with  me."  Rev. 
iii.  20.  This  is  the  holy  (upper  and  bleffed 
communion  of  faints,  which  the  living 
members  of  the  church  experience  and  is 
ftill  continued  to  the  followers  of  Cliriit: 
So  that  though  they  rejeft  the  ufe  of  thofe 
outward  ceremonies,  yet  they  are  advocates 
for  the  true  fpiritual  baptifm  and  the  Lord's 
fupper,  which  are  thole  inward  and  fpiri 
tual  graces  to  which  the  figures  point. 

ON 


(     33     ) 
ON    SWEARING, 

THEY  teach  a  ftria:  regard  to  Truth 
without  fwearing,  according  to  the 
injunction  of  our  bleffed  Savioitr,  "  Swear 
"  notatall;  but  let  your  communication  bei 
"  Yea,  Yea  ;  Nay,  Nay— for  whatfoever  is 
"  more  than  thefe  cometh  of  evil,"  Matt.  v. 
34,  37.  and  the  exhortation  of  the  apoflle 
James;  ''  But  above  all  things  my  brethren 
"  fwearnot,  neither  by  heaven,  neither  by 
"  the  earth,  neither  by  any  other  oath ;  but 
"  let  your  yea,  be  yea,  and  your  nay,  nay; 
"  left  ye  fall  into  condemnation/'  James  v. 
1 2.  apprehending  that  were  the  mind  isun- 
der  the  tye  and  bond  of  truth,  there  can 
be  no  neceflity  for  oaths  and  afleverations, 
which  are  evidently  the  leaft  regarded  by 
thofe  who  make  the  freeft  ufe  of  them :  Yet 
willing  to  fubmit  to  any  punifhment  for 
falfe  affirming,  which  others  are  liable  to 
for  perjury.  And  in  this  there  is  reafon  to 
believe  they  follow  the  example  of  the  fa 
thers  of  the  five  firft  centuries,  who  accor 
ding  to  Dr.  Whitby  (in  his  diiTert.  de  fcript. 
interp.  p.  154)  and  other  authors  agree, 
that  oaths  of  all  kinds  were  unlawful  to 
chrifliansin  the  firft  centuries  of  the  church* 
E  On 


(     34    ) 
On     SLAVERY. 

TH  E  Slavery,  which  during  a  long 
courfe  of  years  has  fubfifted  in  Ame 
rica,  promoted  by  a  cruel  and  criminal 
trade,  carried  on  both  from  Europe  and  A- 
merica,  for  the  fixed  purpofe  of  purchafmg 
the  African  Negroes,  in  order  to  fubjeft 
them  to  a  ftate  of  bondage,  being  one  of  the 
great  evils  now  prevailing  amongft  the  pro- 
feflbrs  of  chriftianity,  when  confidered  in 
its  nature  and  effects,  as  well  to  the  Negroes, 
as  to  their  lordly  oppreffors  and  their  un 
happy  offspring,  hath  particularly  engaged 
the  attention  of  this  religious  fociety,  who 
have  required  all  their  members  to  avoid 
being,  in  any  refpe£t>  concerned  in  the  fup- 
port  of  this  infamous  traffick;  and  have  alfo 
enjoined  all  their  members  who  have  any 
of  thefe  oppreffed  people  in  pofleffion,  that 
they  fhould,  without  delay,  fet  them  at  li 
berty;  and  directed  that  foch  who  refufed 
to  comply  with  this  injunction,  fhall  be  con 
iidered  as  no  longer  in  fellowship  with  them 
and  to  have  renounced  their  right  of  mem- 
berfhip.  And  having  alfo  obferved  the  ma 
ny  difadvantages  thefe  afflifted  people  la 
bour  under  in  point  of  education  and  other- 
wife 


(     35    ) 

wife,  a  tender  care  has  taken  place  to  pro 
mote  their,  inftruftion  in  fchool  learning, 
and  alfo  their  religious  and  temporal  wel 
fare,  in  order  to  qualify  them  for  becoming 
reputable  members  of  fociety. 

Their  DISCIPLINE  and  OECONOMY. 

RELIGIOUS  fociety  in  its  fimpleft  form, 
being  an  agreement  of  its  members 
to  watch  over  each  other  for  good,  as  in  this 
lapfed  ftate  of  exiftence,  we  are  iubjcft  to 
many  weakneffes  and  (land  in  need  of  the 
care  and  counfel  one  of  another;  hence  dif- 
cipline,  for  the  well  government  of  fuch  a 
fociety  becomes  neceffary.  Thus  where  a 
number  of  this  people  are  fettled  in  a  neigh 
bourhood  and  belong  to  one  eftabliihed 
meeting  for  worfhip,  if  any  individual  falls 
into  indigent  circumftanccs,  when  iuch  cafe 
becomes  known,  relief  isadminiftered;  or 
if  any  member  walk  diforderly,  or  a  report 
is  fpread  to  his  difadvantage,  that  perfon  of 
the  fociety  who  firft  obferves  or  hears  there 
of,  is  enjoined  privately  to  admonifh  him, 
carefully  avoiding  a  difclofure  of  the  matter 
to  a  third  perfon,  until  repeated  trials  to  re 
claim  him  prove  ineffectual.  He  is  then  to 
take  a  judicious  perfon  with  him,  and  if 

their 


(     36     ) 

their  united  endeavours  prove  alfo  fraitlefs, 
his  cafe  is  made  known  to  the  overfeers,  of 
which  there  are  generally  one  or  more  in 
each  particular  meeting;  whole  bufmefs  it 
is  to  fee  that  the  order  and  rules  of  the  fo- 
ciety  are  obferved,  and  who  after  vifiting 
the  offender  and  finding  him  irreclaimable, 
firft  apprize  him  of  their  intention  and  then 
lay  his  cafe  before  the  elders,  overfeers  and 
other  members  of  the  meeting  he  belongs 
to,  where  if  none  are  inclined  to  vifit  him 
ag^in,  it  is  carried  forward  to  the  monthly 
meeting,  which  is  a  meeting  generally  made 
up  of  the  members  of  feveral  fuch  particu 
lar  meetings  as  lie  contiguous  to  it;  here  a 
committee  is  commonly  deputed  to  ufe  fur 
ther  endeavours  to  convince  and  regain  the 
offender;  but  if  after  repeatedly  vifiting  and 
waiting  upon  him  a  proper  time,  no  (ignof 
Amendment  is  reported,  that  meeting  pro 
ceeds  to  teftify  its  difapprobation  of  his  con- 
duft,  and  that  he  has  thereby  excluded  him- 
felf  from  a  right  of  memberihip  in  the  fo- 
ciety?  This  teftification  it  is  ufual  to  deliver 
him  a  copy  of,  and  inform  him  of  his  right 
of  appeal  from  their  judgment,  to  the  quar 
terly  meeting,  which  confifts  of  the  mem 
bers  who  conftitute  the  monthly  meetings 
within  each  county ;  and  from  the  quarterly 

meetings 


(     37    ) 

meeting  appeals  alfo  lie  to  the  yearly  meet 
ing,  which  is  a  collection  of  all  the  quarterly- 
meetings;  here  appeals  are  finally  deter 
mined;  rules  for  the  government  of  the  fo- 
ciety  are  agreed  on;  with  fuch  advices  as 
from  time  to  time  appear  neceffary. 

The  Quakers  refufal  to  unite  in  any  thing 
of  a  warlike  nature,,  which  proceeds  from  a 
conviction  that  every  meafure  which  tends 
to  the  deftraftion  of  mankind  is  inconfiftcnt 
with  the  nature  of  theGofpel;  their  refufing 
to  join  in  publick  rejoicing  for  luccefles  ob^ 
tained  in  war;  their  denying  to  fwear  in  a~ 
ny  cafe;  to  pay  tythes,  or  to  contribute  to 
to  the  fupport  of  the  national  miniilry;  as 
well  as  their  nonconformity  to  the  common 
modes  of  addrefs,  &c.  have  fiibjefted  them 
to  much  obloquy  and  many  grievous  faffer- 
ings  which  neverthelefs  have  been  much 
mitigated  by  the  indulgence  different  go 
vernments  have  extended  to  them,,  convin 
ced  by  their  patient  fufferings,  that  their 
profeffion  of  confcientious  fcruples  were  fin-* 
cere,  and  that  nothing  dangerous  to  civil 
fociety  could  be  apprehended  from  a  people 
who  utterly  difclaimed  the  ufe  of  arms,  or 
of  being  in  any  wife  concerned  in  foment 
ing  diviiions  or  civil  commotions,  and  who 
think  it  their  duty  to  contribute  their  endea 
vours 


(     38     ) 

vours  fcfr  the  peace  and  welfare  of  every 
country  where  their  lots  are  call,  and  arc 
willing  chearfully  to  comply  with  every  juft 
requiiition,  for  the  fupport  of  the  civil  order 
of  government,  not  inconfiftent  with  what 
they  apprehend  is  their  duty  to  God.  They 
are  careful  to  minifter  to  the  neceffities  of 
thofe  among  them  whofe  circumftances  call 
for  relief,  not  fuffering  any  of  their  mem 
bers  to  become  a  publick  charge;  they 
moreover  chearfully  pay  their  equal  affcff- 
ment  with  others,  for  the  fupport  of  the 
general  poor.  Nor  have  any  other  people 
manifefled  a  greater  clefire  and  willingnefs 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  civil  fociety,  by 
their  liberality  in  contributing  to  the  relief 
of  the  poor,  and  in  attention  to  the  care  of 
them ;  and  in  the  management  of  thofe  in- 
ftitutions  which  have  been  eftablifhed  for 
the  benefit  of  the  community  at  large :  For 
a.  coniidcrablc  number  of  years  many  of 
them  were  concerned  with  others  in  the  le- 
giflative  and  executive  part  of  civil  govern 
ment,  wherein  they  manifeftecl  a  firm  at 
tachment  to  the  conftitutional  rights  of  the 
people ;  but  as  acting  in  thefo  itations  was 
attended  with  fnares  and  temptations,  itwas 
the  concern  of  their  yearly-meeting  to  ex 
cite  iuch  to  a  watchful  care  againil  deviating 
from  their  chriftian,  peaceable  principles  ; 

and 


C    39    ) 

and  at  length  as  the  inhabitants  became  nu 
merous,  by  emigrations  from  Europe  and 
otherwife,  and  the  holding  public  offices 
was  attended  with  greater  difficulty,  fervices 
i  being  required  which  interfered  more  im 
mediately  with  their  religious  principles,  the 
yearly  meeting  advifed  their  members  to 
withdraw  therefrom,  perceiving  that  the 
feeking  or  accepting  of  offices  in  legiflation 
or  magiftracy  was  dangerous  and  frequently 
injurious  to  the  individuals  in  a  religious 
fenfe  ;  more  especially  when  fought  for  and 
accepted  for  the  fake  of  the  profits,  emolu 
ments  and  worldly  honours  annexed  to 
them,  tending  to  debafe  the  mind  to  the 
odious  bondage  of  ambition  and  avarice. 

If  upon  obferving  the  conduct  of  many 
who  profefs  themfelves  members  of  this  re 
ligious  fociety,  any  fliould  be  offended  at 
the  great  deviation  which  appears  in  the 
practice  of  fuch  from  their  principles  as  fet 
forth  in  the  foregoing  account,  they  are  de- 
fired  to  conlider  the  frailty  and  corruption 
of  the  human  heart  in  its  fallen  ftatc  ;  its 
natural  biafs  and  attachment  to  the  world, 
to  its  delights,  its  friendfhip  and  honours, 
and  remember  how  repugnant  thefe  pro- 
penlities  are  to  the  precepts  and  felf-deny- 
ing  example  left  us  by  our  Lord  ;  that  the 

neceffary 


(40    ) 

neccffary  change  of  heart  which  the  gofpcl 
propofes,  is  not  gained  by  birth,  but  muft 
be  purchafed  by  iubmiffion  to,  and  an  hum 
ble  abiding  under  the  crofsof  Chrift,  "Then 
"  laid  Jefus  unto  his  difciples>  If  any  man 
"  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himfelf 
"  and  take  up  his  crofs  and  follow  me." 
Matt.  xvi.  24.  When  this  is  duly  weighed, 
it  will  not  appear  ftrange  if  the  inftances  of 
defection  are  many;  it  was  early  the  cafe  a- 
mongft  the  believers  in  the  primitive  ages  of 
chriltianity,  v/hen  they  grew  numerous  and 
hath  been  the  cafe  in  all  religious  focieties 
iince  that  time.  Neverthelefs  it  is  great  caufe 
of  encouragement  to  the  upright  enquirer, 
that  a  large  number  of  thofe  people  are  mer 
cifully  preserved,  in  an  eminent  degree 
faithful  to  their  firft  principles  and  docTtrinc 
and  upright  in  their  life  and  converfation, 
who  are  living  monuments  of  the  effiacy  and 
all  fufficient  grace  of  God  as  witneffesforhim 
and  for  his  truth  and  righteoufnefs  on  earth. 
They  who  are  deiirous  of  more  full  in 
formation  refpefting  the  doftrine  and  prin 
ciples  of  this  people,  are  referred  to  the 
writings  of  Robert  Barclay,  William  Penn, 
George  Whitehead  and  others  by  whom  they 
are  fully  fet  forth  as  alfo  of  late  times  by  Jo- 
fephPhipps. 

THE  END. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


7*krfN*f 

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NOV^OB61 

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I2Dec'eitf^ 

i      5/jJ     -,>       1        "^i|";  I 

" 

rvCiCk  D  L.O 

OCTliigg? 

<\4tov44-Sl< 

•^•r-.-GJ^l?    CD 

1351 

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LD  21A-50m-12,'60 
(B6221slO)476B 


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